Hello Astaire I'm Jeremy Johnson Internet W C.C.A.
And I'm joined today by the vice president of marking marketing and communications
for Westerville as H.C.
Eric Lindquist thanks for joining us today Eric Thanks Jeremy glad to be here and I
guess let's start off. Would you say that from
a young age it's been your passion to wake where can sports and broadcasting and
communications for sure I grew up in North Andover mass about forty five minutes
north of Boston and I grew up going to Merrimack College games as
a little kid and was
a huge foster Bruins fan my my family would go to Bruins game so I was
a big Christmas present growing up and I knew right off the bat I really like
talking I played hockey but I wasn't good enough to play in college so I kind of
transition over to behind the microphone and Northeastern and from there I've been
able to make a career out of it and I've had a really good time doing so so I'm in
a good spot here with the rail ors and happy to be part of getting you know pro
hockey back here western and who would you say some of your old models growing up
where well I guess I was
a big Boston Bruins fan so I grew up listening to Fred Cusick and Derek Sanderson
on the old T.V.
Thirty eight I was a huge fan of those two I never missed
a Bruins game growing up you know back in my parents to stay up late and watch and
so. For shows Frank Cusick and Derek Sanderson and. You know you again
the they put excitement into the game and they were
a big fan of the hockey fight and I always tried to. It's going to mirror
my call from those two growing up where you're still the Bruins fan when you were
in the Sharks organization or did you kind of transfer over to being
a Sharks fan. Instead of a Bruins fan Well I guess I was
a big Bruins fan growing up I was an interned for the Boston Bruins for three years
when I was in college and then I kind of bounced around
a little bit before I got the Sharks gig I was working in will for the loch
monsters I was in Long Beach in the C.H.L.
For the Ice Dogs and then I got the shark skin. You know I guess I was you know
Bruins fan growing up but now I'm more of
a hockey fan so you know I follow you know hockey at all levels the C.H.L. E.H.L.O.
Junior hockey N.H.L.
You know hockey in Europe so I don't think I'm
a Bruins fan now. You know in my as Sharks fan now at the rail or as I'll certainly
be following the sharks this year the Barracuda from was stir but I wouldn't say
I'm a big Sharks fan but I'll be rooting for
a lot of the staff the players and was a this year can you kind of go into
a little bit of detail what the final season for the sharks was like I know they
were here for nine years and it was kind of
a rough. Go for fans because they wanted the team to stay but
it kind of fell into alignment with moving on out west because it didn't make sense
logistically to fly them back and forth call ups and downs and what was that kind
of like for you guys in the front office well you know you say it was
a rough go for the fans it wasn't all that easy for the staff either you know
a lot of the staff and working for the Sharks for you know well over nine years and
you know we didn't necessarily want the team to move from Western to San Jose
a lot of our staff you know grew up in the area had families in the area and they
knew they weren't going to San Jose so it was a you know
a difficult season for everyone really but you know the staff wanted to make sure
that the last season was
a memorable one we celebrated twenty years of professional hockey and was
a level with the ice cats
a level with the sharks and we wanted to make sure that was to sharks staff as
a whole wanted to make sure that it was
a good sendoff for the team to go to San Jose and we try to involve you know former
you know ice cats and Sharks players and we really wanted to celebrate you know
a great run that was sure had of American Hockey League action and I think we're
pretty successful doing that and I think the sharks left and everyone kind of you
know sure they didn't want to see us leave but at the same time I think everyone
understood why they were leaving and and and we knew that if we left the right way
the sharks left the right way to San Jose we wanted to make sure that that be an
opportunity for another hockey team to come into was stir and Cliff rocker of the
owner of the rail ors saw that opportunity and we're lucky enough now to to have
Clif the rail ors and get things going in October two thousand and seventeen and
you kind of eager for the puck to drop I can't wait I'm dying right now. Chomping
at the bit I'm not quite sure. What I'm going to be doing you know the weekends for
the next you know seven or eight. I'm sure I'll find
a hockey rink somewhere you know to go and watch but you know I I
enjoy my job because of the games because of the fans the players and it's
certainly going to be an adjustment for me will be the first time that I don't work
a hockey season and I don't know in twenty years so it will just last weekend I
went to the college game with our new head coach Jamie Russell just to kind of go
into
a rink and watch some hockey so I don't have to try to stay busy over the next seventy
months but I know we have
a lot of exciting activities plans for our members where to try to get you know the
entire city involves of what the real or so have to offer moving forward so we'll
be busy but just not
a hockey game busy over the next nine months are you going to go to Providence at
all this year just to get your hockey fix I might go to
a couple of games you know I'm
a hockey fan so I'll check out some games in Providence I'll probably go to Boston
I'll check out some college hockey Springfield's close to Manchester Macon doing
some road trips this year might even fly out west to San Jose to catch
a handful of games so my schedule weekend wise is somewhat open and I'll certainly
be putting on some miles on the car day to check out some hockey and they know when
the Sharks departed you went out with them when they turned into the Barracuda What
was that decision process like for you because I know it's kind of
a big decision to pack everything up move out west and then move back again so why
just had a small one bedroom apartment in Worcester at studio so it wasn't
a lot for me but I was excited for the opportunity as you mention
a bunch of the other American hockey teams moved out west to be closer to the
energy L. Affiliate and I get to call games last year at the S.E.P.
Center the shark tank where you know the San Jose Sharks play so that was neat
there was
a lot of different cities I got to visit. Last year San Diego Austin Bakersfield
stocked in you know the whole West Coast so that was you know
a different experience and. You know it was different but I'm glad I went I'm glad
I got to experience that but I was keeping close tabs on what was going on here and
it was stir when you know the flock are announced at the fan fest at the rail or so
coming in in two thousand and seventeen and kind of spurred my interest
a little bit and then when the team announced Mike Myers as president who was good
friends with
a coworker with the sharks I kind of knew deep down that if there was an
opportunity that existed that I'd be interested in coming back with the rail ors
and I talked to you know Mike Byers over the course of
a couple of months and after doing some research on what you know Cliff Rucker had
going on in the city in the different projects that he had and that there might be
opportunity for me to come back here with the rail or so in the C.H.L.
And I jumped on it after talking to Mike Myers so I'm excited to get going so just
taking the vice president role are you also going to be the broadcaster of the
religion twenty seven thousand. Titles or titles I'll be doing
a lot of the same that I did for the sharks that would be including broadcasting
you know we don't have something etched in stone yet when it comes to we'll be
broadcasting our games but I know we're looking at
a lot of different avenues both on T.V.
And radio so I'm certainly excited about that and until we get to that point you
know the office is busy selling memberships putting together marketing plans
putting together
a bench for our members so again as I mentioned just because the pipe doesn't drop
in for another twelve thirteen months there's still
a lot going on and I'm excited to be part of
a fresh new team here and was stir and I'm excited because I really believe that
it's going to work this time you know maybe third time's
a charm you know the ice cats were here for eleven years the Sharks for nine and.
Already seen
a lot of different types of commitments from the ownership here with the rail ors
here in the city of Wister the two new rinks at the Canal district purchasing the
building behind the D.C.U.
Center for the well you know for the rail or stabber and there's
a lot of excitement in different feel this time around with the rail ors that I'm
pretty sure with with the support from the city which I've seen tenfold over the
last you know month or so that it's going to work professional hockey here in
Worcester for
a long time to come how do you think the first season with the Barracuda when you
know
a lot of double headers because you have the Barracuda playing in the Sharks playing
in the same day what was that like it was
a lot of work at thirteen double headers last year with the sharks either played
before or after the San Jose Barracuda you know there was a lot of being
a No it wasn't like the S.E.P.
Center was our whole merino we had to move in everything the day of game and move
everything out as a post when we were at the D.C.U.
Center our Walker was our locker room we had a whole so there was
a lot of moving in and out and back and forth but. You know for it but for all the
work it was kind of cool being able to call you know the barracuda and the con
doors at one o'clock in the afternoon and as I'm writing the game recap and
wrapping up that H.L.
Game I was able to you know watch the Sharks and the kings the same arena that
night so. You know it was a lot of work but it was
a lot of fun and I'm glad I was able to experience that for
a year and I know Roy Summers probably one of the best coaches well loved by
everyone involved. We kind of wish he had broken the all time wins record in
Worcester but he did break it out in San Jose What was that like calling that game
for you you know Roy it was
a big part of the reason why I wanted to go out to the west coast you know. Roy
Sobber his family Marley cast in care of the whole crew they were
a second family to me and you know Roy was awesome to work with the years and was
stirring I did really want to be part of the record breaking when the most wins in
H.L. History by head coach and we went on a bit of
a winning streak and in January and then all of
a sudden I think we lost seven or eight games in
a row before he broke it so there was
a little stress involved before he broke the game but it was quite the
accomplishment I was glad I was behind the mike Ford and to be
a part of it and we got on
a Royal before the sharks and Coyotes game where we got all the players the
Barracuda players on the ice we're going to bring
a boat on the ice before the sharks again so it was
a great experience and I was happy that I was you know being able to be
a part of that I think that's
a record also that aren't think anybody will ever be have of the break no probably
not you know Royce been the head coach of the sharks A.T.L.
Affiliate in Cleveland Wister I mean Kentucky Cleveland Wister now San Jose
so. You're right I don't think it's a win that's
a record that will be broken anytime soon if it is broken so do you still keeping
in contact with all the sharks guys that played in with or that are with the
Barracuda now now that you're back in Wister again yeah you know I mentioned my
Sharks fan maybe a little bit early be rooting for
a lot of the players that came in through was stir been keeping tabs on the Sharks
training camp and and what's going on with the Barracuda training camp which
started earlier this week I've talked to Coach Musha L.
In coach Roy quite a bit over the last you know
a week or two and just kind of get filled in on what's going on so I'll certainly
be keeping tabs on the west coast staying up late watching some games I know I
listened to you all season last year with the Barracuda it was kind of
a difficult transition because we. The time difference the games are ten ten
o'clock here in San Jose seven so it was but. I'm
a night owl so they'll sit right into my schedule nuts who worry about it but
you're right
a lot of late nights you know for Wednesday specially when the game starts at seven
thirty out there of the three hour time change I might be
a little tired there's much when you first got word that professional hockey was
coming back to the city what was your first thought Well again I was keeping tabs
on what was going on and Lyster you know as soon as I got to San Jose and I met
a lot of great people in Worcester a lot of great fans
a lot of you know great colleagues and you know media and coworkers and
a lot of friends so I was keeping tabs of what was going on here and what I was
hoping that Wister would get another hockey team I thought they would especially
the way you know the great sendoff we had
a year twenty with the sharks and. Again I was super happy and excited for
Worcester when it was announced that the regulars were coming on board and it kind
of got me thinking well you know maybe maybe if you know if the opportunity was
right that I'd come back in and help them get things going and the you know the
stars aligned and here I am sitting across from you here Lister that worked out
pretty well you and I back together again after. Having my few color opportunities
next to you in the broadcast booth. Definitely
a fun time you know it's again I'm glad to be back
a lot of familiar faces and I always feel Wister deserves
a professional hockey team and they deserve it the right way and from what I've
seen so far from the frock or in the red you know the rails organization Mike Byers
it's going to be a team that we're going to be able to be proud of in
a winning team Cliff made it very clear to me in my first kind of chat with him
that he wanted to make sure that we're winning here Wister and that was refreshing
to hear. So I'm excited to get things rolling I just wish. I do wish we're playing
beside Tobar but I know all the work that's involved to make sure that we do it the
right way and we wouldn't be ready yet we wouldn't do it you know be able to do it
the right way so I'm glad we have the extra you know twelve months to make sure
that when the puck does drop in two thousand and seventeen that you know the D.C.U.
Center is packed and ready to go. Alongside you again in the broadcast booth is the
curveball and I will try what I know I'm open to any sort of those opportunities
here we had
a blast with the couple of times he came on so. Yeah I don't see why
not I kind of I kind of looked up to for years because I find myself in the T.V.
Business right now but there's that part of me that always wants to get back into
the radio gig and hopefully eventually we're fair
a team because. It's my passion I love it well see I look
a lot better on radio so I prefer the radio side of things but you know again
for the opportunity for you know you allowing me to come on here and tell my story
a little bit and tell a little bit about the railer So it's you know T.V.
Radio social media you know there's
a lot of different mediums to kind of talk hockey in and you know be passionate
about it so I'm excited to be
a part of all and. You're kind of assisting in the transition here my friend
Stephanie we're transferring her into
a hockey fans who are kind Bringuier providence this year and then that way when
the railroads come in next year she's
a full blown hockey fan and ready to go so and again we're going to be having
events you know with the railer is over the next twelve months we have the skate to
the date which is on October fourteenth which is
a event to celebrate the one year anniversary before our actual first game at the
D.C.U.
Center in two thousand and seventeen so you know we're going to free skate for the
fans
a little state of the Union address for members only and we're going to be
a lot of those type of events throughout the year so if anyone wants any more
information regarding those type of events railer is H C dot com We'll have it all
there were on Facebook or on Twitter the website the whole nine so they'll be
plenty of opportunities just because we're not playing hockey to get involved with
the rail or so of the next twelve months I know you said you worked in the C.H.L.
With the ice dogs before can you kind of describe for the viewers out there that
the difference in play between the H.-L. And the C.H.L.
You know you can fans expect in two thousand and seventeen. Hockey versus what the
Sharks were in the H.L.
You know it's double A Aki if people are confused on what you know the E C H L is
made of that baseball analogy that right kind of takes along the same lines of.
Being AAA and the being double A so right and
a lot of the players that we saw with the Worcester sharks in The Wiz try scats
either started C.H.L.
At some point or even that year I know Wister offense might be familiar with names
like Johnny ward he was in Kalamazoo before the sharks got him that second time and
put up that you know that triptych season before Tampa signed him Dan De Silva had
spent some time in the east C.H.L.
a Number of players Conrad Abbots house or Gregory HANSEN You know Jimmy Bonnell
played in the C.H.L.
So it's a breeding ground for
a younger players that might not be fully rated to play in the American Hockey
League I think it's a younger league it's can be
a little more feisty at times which I know you'll enjoy and I enjoy as well but
it's really competitive and I loved my year in Long Beach
C.H.L. Back then we were affiliated with the Bruins and T.J.
Trevelyan former Wister shark was on that team in Long Beach that year and he ended
up scoring thirty goals in the American Hockey League so I think it's
a league that the spans of Wister will will enjoy and they'll be able to kind of
you know have it become their own like they did the sharks in the ice scouts and.
Seeing Jimmy Bartel retire last year seeing the pictures of him in Rapid City as
last game are quite emotional but seeing him getting
a scouting job with San Jose is definitely something we were all proud of
him for so yeah we were hoping to get. I'm back here and was there but well you
know it's you know war is not close. I have known bones I wouldn't put anything
past him but I was happy for for Jamie to get that scouting it with the sharks
actually his first day was my last day with the sharks so he was
a coworker of mine for one day in the front office but I know what Jimmy was super
thrilled about the opportunity the Sharks gave and you know the sharks were
a great organization they you know they took care of. You know their players and
their staff and you know I was another showing that kind of thing to me for all the
work that he put in with the sharks young players over the years and rewarded him
with that you know scouting position in the front office I know where hoping to see
some of the former Sharks players back here and will stay of playing for the rail
or say mean that door is not closed but that door is always open for. The
opportunity for them to come back because I could tell through the years that they
were dedicated to Worcester and they really cared about hockey in the city and if
you talk to any players or
a lot of players that left was stare for greener pastures and then they ended up
coming back you know and into civil was you know
a prime example of that and if you talk to any of the former ice cats or Sharks
players they'll always tell you that was stirred holds
a special meaning in their playing career and
a lot of players when they retire they either move back here and live here or look
for other opportunities here and I would not be surprised that once the rail or
strop Apoc in two thousand and seventeen that we might have
a former Sharks player or two on that opening night roster you know maybe some of
the veteran guys that can no longer play in the American Hockey League or or even
you know if you're the younger ones that just didn't necessarily pan out the
American Hockey League will make it and another opportunity here with the railer is
and I'm looking forward to that prospect happening it was kind of good to see
matter Owen kind of weird in the Bruins organization last year but at the same time
. Seeing those guys coming back after years away it's good to see them because
it's more than. A fan player relationship it's you could call it
a brotherhood and you know they've become a part of your hockey family
a lot of the players that I had played it was for the last several years they are
you know their first year professional hockey it's you know it's their first taste
of what it's like to be
a professional hockey player and I know how well the fans treated our players over
the years and it's special for them and something that they always remember and
they don't forget and again if you talk to and that was the one thing I think that
was missing in San Jose last year at the American Hockey League level it was in
that minor league hockey feel that we had here was that kind of sense of you know
the second hockey family sort of thing that was missing
a little bit last year there was
a lot of travel with the Barracuda we were on the bus
a ton and you know we didn't have the booster club parties to Christmas parties and
that sort of thing so some of that stuff was lacking. And. I think it was just last
year I think from what I've seen the relatives are more than
a hockey team they are we have H.C.
On the bottom of our logo it's a hockey club it's still doing
a lot more different and unique things and say the sharks of the cats did and I
think that's kind of. Positive to see getting out the organization more seeing
cliff. Make such a big splash in
a city the city that he's made already. Would you agree Oh for sure there's going
to be
a huge commitment by you know Cliff rocker and the rail or it's to the central Massachusetts
community and again I've already seen
a tenfold over the last month and I saw you know nine years you know with the
sharks there's
a commitment here downtown you know changing of the canal district with those two
hockey rinks that are going to host several college hockey teams they're going to
host you know the juniors sharks the junior seders and
a bunch of other local youth hockey organizations and it's going to really help get
that canal district going and mention the religious pub you have the D.C.U.
Center be
a place where our fans can kind of hang out before and and after the game and we're
you know we hope to you know feed our players and kind of have them have
a place that they can go and kind of feel good in grab a bite so there's
a lot of image in the H.C.
It is
a hockey club we're not call and our season ticket holders but they're members and
they're members of the club so it's I'm still we're still learning what that's
going to entail moving forward but I know our our ticket staff fit in Mike Fisher
and Tim and we've got community chill out there doing
a tons of events with tracks our mascot and you know Mike Myers with his experience
and background within the central mass community I feel really good moving forward
that we're going to do things the right way and it's going to be
a trike antic success here come next October and. Some of the like
college players so probably scouting right now looking into next season and
recruiting players and. I know you've interviewed him so what's that process kind
of like from that standpoint Well sorry new general manager head coach Jamie
Russell he's every weekend he's going to three and three or even
a forum for Thursday Friday Saturday and Sunday he'll be tracking college hockey
players and he's got a college hockey background he was
a college hockey coach three thousand years Cornell Michigan Tech and in Providence
College before he was a coach at Elmira in the C.H.L.
So he's got
a lot of collegiate connections and his plan over the next twelve months is so kind
of you know pinpoint players so that when the railroads can sign players come June
he's ready to go and have
a list and start attack mode so I'm confident that you know come June and July that
we're going to have a good team or start to have
a good team as we get closer to October and our fans will have an opportunity to
meet with Cheney at the skate of the data events on October fourteenth James can
have
a question and answer session during that time so if you have any questions for Jamie
feel free to write them down on your on your paper there it be ready for me on the
fourteenth. I know October twenty seventeen seems like an
eternity away but there's always. Business going on from your standpoint
trying to get your ducks aligned in order making sure that this is the best opening
night that the city's ever seen so and again it's you know I wasn't quite sure how
busy I would be right off the bat you know starting last month been on for just
over a month now and it's been super busy there's
a lot to do to get ready for next October. And you know every day when there's
a new plan of action our staff is going to grow over the next twelve months there's
there are six of us now but I would imagine the staff you know doubling maybe
tripling in size before opening night so you know community chill it's got advance
just about every day two or three each week at which tracks are mascots so. When
there's
a lot going on just because the puck doesn't drop till next October it doesn't mean
that we're not busy so. This is going to be
a weird question but did you miss all that who knows in the home cooking while you
were out I got into. This. There was a lot of good food choices in San Jose I know
a lot of tacos. But again part of the reason coming back to Wister is I missed
you know you take
a lot for granted the fans the people the coworkers the city the eateries
you know the whole night so it certainly was part of my decision of coming back and
you know I feel like at times I was gone fourteen months but it seems like I was
gone fourteen minutes I'd be back and going to new lows every day or you're out in
San Jose just seems really odd not thinking of you live in there every day so he
would Emily and Michelle and the whole crew but. They're very happy to see you back
we all wanted you back and. We knew when my Mike Myers got
promoted to president that he would hopefully bring you in and your array of
sunshine around that arena and I don't think we would find anybody better than you
so I appreciate Jeremy and again I'm glad to be back and again I'm glad that gets
across from you here today and talk real or Saki So that's part of the minor league
hockey feel which I missed a little bit in San Jose so it's it's
a big family if anything it is it is and I knew when I was in San Jose that
a lot of the Worcester fans were were listening and watching and. It helped me kind
of stay connected to Worcester So I appreciate that. In closing is there anything
out there that the viewers should know about their religion where can they get more
information what is their phone number they can call to ask about memberships area
or anything like that I mentioned the website whalers H.C.
Dot com work cross all the social media channels as well which you can find from
our website so I wanted to direct their one towards our website. I think we're
getting close to eight hundred members right now our goal is fifteen hundred by
February two thousand and seventeen I can't tell you the first one thousand members
will become part of the founder circle which will have
a lot of special kind of entities behind that so we only have
a couple hundred spaces left for the founder circle so all it takes is
a fifty dollars deposit we're going to have quite
a few events between now and the start of the hockey season next year and
you know I like to say hop aboard all aboard. You know full steam ahead there's
a lot going on with the list to rail ors we'd love for you to come be
a part of our hockey club and again really see dot com And so thank you
for coming in today and. Giving the viewers out there
a little more insight into your journey through your career and
spreading the word about the rail or because we want to get that word out there as
much as possible fellow we'll be all set and revved up and ready to full steam
ahead for twenty seventeen I like it and I appreciate the opportunity Jeremy and
your support not only of the sharks and the realists moving forward and I'm sure
a bump into you quite
a few times since we now and the next trailer Savan so appreciate the time and the
opportunity and you know go really or so and thanks again for joining us today Eric
and I want to thank you for watching W C C A T V The people shall.